Device at a snap-in lock

ABSTRACT

An arrangement for a snap lock includes a first component having a projecting part that is capable of being introduced into a corresponding cavity in a second component. An indentation in the projecting part is oriented transverse to the direction of introduction into the cavity. A snap device, e.g., a piece of profile strip made of flexible material such as plastic or rubber, is introduced into an undercut groove in the wall of the cavity, wherein a portion of the strip corresponding to the indentation extends into the cavity, thereby producing a snap locking function between the components when introduced one into the other. The components are preferably formed of pieces cut to identical lengths from two extruded profile strips made of rigid material, such as plastic or light metal.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an arrangement for a snap lockcomprising a first component, which has a projecting part, which iscapable of being introduced into a corresponding cavity in a secondcomponent, in conjunction with which there is present in theaforementioned component, or alternatively in the wall of the cavity, atleast one indentation arranged across the direction of introduction,into which a snap device arranged in the wall of the cavity, oralternatively on the projection, is so arranged as to snap intoengagement on being introduced, for the purpose of producing a lockingfunction.

There is already available on the market a large number of differentembodiments of snap locks, which, although they function satisfactorilyand are of at least seemingly simple construction, nevertheless consistof a number of mechanically interacting components. These usuallyconsist of springs, or contain spring components to produce the snapeffect, which means, amongst other things, that the hardness of the snapeffect cannot be varied without significant intervention in the snaplock, or can only be varied by changing to another snap lock withincreased or reduced hardness in the snap effect.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A primary object of the present invention is to make available a snaplock of the kind referred to by way of introduction, which is of simpleconstruction, especially with regard to the snap device, the hardness ofwhich can easily be given an appropriate value. This is achieved inaccordance with the invention by the first and second components of thesnap lock consisting of pieces of two extruded profile strips made of arigid material such as plastic or light metal and cut preferably toidentical length, in conjunction with which the aforementioned snapdevice is in the form of a piece of profile strip made of a flexiblematerial such as plastic or rubber introduced into an undercut groovewhich extends all the way through the profile, which profile stripexhibits a cross-section such that it is capable of being introducedinto, and is thus capable of being fixed in the undercut groove, which,thanks to its undercut profile, follows the external form of the profilestrip over more than half its circumference.

As will be appreciated from one particular characteristic feature of theinvention, the profile strip which forms the snap device can be a pieceof hose, the wall thickness of which is selected so as to achieveappropriate hardness in the snap effect.

It is clear from other particular characteristic features of theinvention that the snap lock can be double-acting by providing theaforementioned first component with two diametrically opposingprojecting parts, each of which is capable of being introduced into itsown cavity in components of the same kind as the aforementioned secondcomponent, in addition to which special decorative effects can beproduced by the aforementioned first component comprising a piece oftubular profile moulding of circular, square or rectangularcross-section arranged between the projecting parts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to theaccompanying drawing, in which

FIG. 1 illustrates in perspective view an embodiment of a snap lock inaccordance with the invention.

FIGS. 2a and 2b illustrate in perspective view two different embodimentsof double-acting snap locks in accordance with the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The embodiment of a snap lock in accordance with the inventionillustrated in FIG. 1 comprises a male component 1 and a femalecomponent 2. The male component 1 consists of a mounting plate 1a with aprojecting part 1b which is capable of being introduced into acorrespondingly formed cavity 2a in the female component 2. Theprojecting part 1b is executed with two indentations 1c arranged toeither side of same. A snap device 2b, which is arranged in the cavitywall, is so arranged as to snap into engagement in at least one of theseindentations, for the purpose of producing a locking function, when theprojection 1b is introduced into the cavity 2a. The presence of twoopposing indentations 1c means that the male component 1 does not needto be turned in relation to the snap device 2b.

In accordance with the invention the snap device 2b is a piece ofprofile strip made of a flexible material such as plastic or rubberintroduced into an undercut groove 2c in the cavity wall. In theembodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 the profile strip 2b is a piece of ahose, which has been pushed into the groove 2c from the side, althoughit is obvious that the profile strip can also exhibit triangularcross-section, for example, in which case the undercut groove is alsogiven a corresponding form.

The snap device in accordance with FIG. 1 is cable of being used, inappropriate dimensions, for wardrobe doors and cupboard doors, but canalso be used with more robust dimensioning for the separable fasteningof, for example, wall and floor elements making up an exhibition stand,which clearly must be capable of being assembled rapidly as required,and of being dismantled equally rapidly.

The snap lock in accordance with FIGS. 2a and 2b is intended primarilyfor the connection of wall and floor elements for an exhibition stand,in which case the embodiment in accordance with FIG. 2a permitsinvisible fastening, and the use of the embodiment in accordance withFIG. 2b enables special decorative effects to be achieved, details ofwhich are given below. The snap lock in accordance with FIG. 2a, 2bcontains two female components of the same kind as the female component2 described in conjunction with FIG. 1. The male component 3 inaccordance with FIG. 2a has two diametrically opposing projecting parts3a with indentations 3b, that is to say it is essentially identical withthe projecting part 1b. The same is true of the male component 4 in theembodiment in accordance with FIG. 2b, although in this case a tubularprofile moulding 4c is arranged between the projecting parts 4a withtheir respective indentations 4b, which tubular profile mouldingexhibits rectangular cross-section in the embodiment illustrated in thedrawing, but can also exhibit circular, square or oval cross-section.The tubular profile moulding 4c serves as a distance piece for theconnection of two wall elements, whereby a special optical effect isachieved. This effect can be further increased by the introduction of adecorative strip element 5 into the profile moulding in the malecomponent of several interacting snap locks, as indicated by a brokenline in FIG. 2b, the edges of which decorative strip element run inslots 4d in the tubular profile moulding 4c.

It is obvious that the invention cannot be regarded as being restrictedto the embodiments described above and illustrated in the drawing, butmay be modified in many ways within the scope of the idea of invention.Thus, for example, the indentations can be arranged as an alternative inthe cavity wall, and the projecting part of the male component can beexecuted with snap devices. As mentioned by way of introduction, theprofile strip 2b can also exhibit triangular, square or ovalcross-section, for example, in which case the undercut groove 2c andpossibly also the indentations 1c are given a corresponding form.

What is claimed is:
 1. An arrangement for a snap lock, comprising:afirst component including a projecting part; a second componentincluding a cavity corresponding to said projecting part into which saidprojecting part is capable of being introduced; at least one indentationdefined in one of the projecting part and the cavity, said indentationbeing arranged across the direction of introduction of said secondcomponent into said first component; and a snap device associated withthe other of the projecting part and the cavity, said snap device beingadapted to snap into engagement with said indentation upon introductionof said second component into said first component, thereby producing alocking function therebetween; wherein said first and second componentscomprise respective pieces of extruded profile strips of rigid materialcut to substantially equal lengths, and said snap device comprises apiece of profile strip of a flexible material, said snap device furthercomprising an undercut groove extending through said componentassociated with said other of the projecting part and the cavity andhaving an opening, said profile strip of said snap device exhibiting across-sectional shape such that upon introduction into said undercutgroove said profile strip of said snap device substantially occupiessaid undercut groove and is retained therein, said undercut groovehaving an undercut profile that follows the external form of the profilestrip of said snap device along more than half of its circumference, theremaining portion of its circumference extending out of said opening andbeing yieldable during introduction of said second component into saidfirst component and thereafter substantially filling said indentation.2. The arrangement of claim 1 in which said first component has twodiametrically opposed projecting parts, each of which is capable ofbeing introduced into a corresponding cavity in a respective said secondcomponent.
 3. The arrangement of claim 2 in which said first componentcomprises a piece of tubular profile moulding arranged between theprojecting parts.
 4. The arrangement of claim 1 in which said profilestrip of said snap device is in the form of a hose, the wall thicknessof which is selected so as to achieve appropriate hardness in the snapeffect.
 5. The arrangement of claim 4 in which said first component hastwo diametrically opposed projecting parts, each of which is capable ofbeing introduced into a corresponding cavity in a respective said secondcomponent.
 6. The arrangement of claim 4 in which said first componentcomprises a piece of tubular profile moulding arranged between theprojecting parts.